Chapter 93

Lilly stood frozen in terror as the blade advanced towards Alexander, the cold metal drawing nearer with each heartbeat. Her voice failed her, and her body refused to move as she desperately wished to intervene, but her limbs were paralyzed. She longed to throw herself in front of Alexander to shield him from Albert, but she was helpless.

The atmosphere was thick with fear and despair. The walls seemed to close in around her, trapping her in a nightmare. She could only watch as Albert drove the blade into Alexander’s heart, and right before her eyes, he collapsed to the floor, lifeless.

“Alexanderrrrr!!!” she screamed, bolting upright in bed, gasping for air.

“Lilly,” Sarah, who was sitting nearby, rushed over to her.

“It’s alright,” Sarah soothed, patting her back. “It was just a nightmare.”

Lilly scanned the large hospital room and realized she had been dreaming. “Where are Alexander and Viola?”

“Viola is sleeping in the room over there, and Alexander is at the base where Kate and the others were kept.”

The hospital room had an adjacent space where visitors could sleep while watching over their loved ones.

They had left the forest in the middle of the night and brought Lilly to the hospital. Although Alexander was told that Lilly didn’t need hospitalization since she was already fine and just needed to wake up, he insisted on staying with her until she was fully recovered. He didn’t want Viola to be separated from her mother, so he arranged for her to stay in the guest room within Lilly’s hospital room.

Lilly tried to get up, but Sarah stopped her. “Relax, you just woke up.”

“I need to see Viola and the others. We finally got Viola back.”

Sarah could see the determination in Lilly’s eyes for revenge.

“I know, but Alexander will be furious if I let you out of bed,” Sarah warned.

“Alright, but I need to see Viola.” Lilly began to rise on her own but felt dizzy.

“Careful,” Sarah said, helping her. “I’ll take you to see her.”

Lilly nodded.

They both went to the other room to see Viola.

Lilly sighed with relief when she saw her daughter sleeping peacefully, tears welling in her eyes. A wave of relief washed over her as she gazed at her now-safe daughter. Emotions surged as memories of the past flooded back, vividly recalling the heartbreaking moment when Kate had taken her daughter away.

But now, with her daughter safely by her side and Alexander unharmed, a fierce resolve grew within her.

Lilly was determined to bring an end to Kate and Albert, and anyone else involved in the past events. The fire of justice burned brightly within her, and she was committed to ensuring no harm would come to her loved ones again.

“I’m glad she’s safe now and that you and Alexander are alright too. It’s all over now,” Sarah said.

Lilly kissed Viola’s forehead before standing up from the bed on her own. “It’s not over until they’re all six feet under,” she replied to Sarah, who nodded in agreement.

“But first, you need to get back to bed. I’ll ask the doctor to check on you and let Alexander know that you’re awake.”

Lilly nodded, though she wanted to head straight to the base and exact her revenge, knowing that Alexander wouldn’t allow it until he was sure she had fully recovered.

In one of the base’s torture rooms, the screams of Alexander’s tormentors echoed loudly.

Alexander stood before Albert, whose entire body was already stained with blood. Alexander had already inflicted significant pain but was not satisfied until he finished him. Kate, on the other hand, had been severely tortured. He would wait until Lilly was out of the hospital to decide what to do with her sister, while he focused on dealing with Albert.

Alexander picked up the heated knife from the fire and brought it close to Albert, who stared at it in horror.

“I gave you the chance to let us go, but you refused. I warned you, didn’t I? There will be no mercy,” Alexander said darkly, his expression causing Albert to tremble.

Alexander placed the hot knife on Albert’s chest, and he screamed in terror.

Alexander left the knife on his chest, and Albert continued to scream in agony.

Ethan entered the torture room and sighed at the scene of Alexander torturing Albert.

“He’s too loud, Alexander. Just take the knife out of his chest so it’s a bit quieter.”

“Why are you here? I don’t recall calling you,” Alexander spoke harshly.

“I know, but I came to inform you that Sarah called from the hospital.”

Alexander turned to him. “What did she say? Are Lilly and Viola alright?” he asked, worried.

“Relax, they’re fine. She called to tell you that Lilly is awake and even wanted to come here, but Sarah had to stop her.” Alexander sighed in relief. With everything that had happened in recent days, he couldn’t help but worry about every little thing concerning Lilly and Viola.

“She also mentioned that her grandfather and father, along with your grandmother and a few others, are visiting her.”

Alexander nodded. “Remove the knife from his chest and lock him in one of the cells. I’m going to the hospital.” He left the torture room.

“But… why me?” Ethan muttered, staring at the knife in Albert’s chest.

He felt nauseous just looking at the wounds on Albert’s body. How was he supposed to do this?

On his way out of the base, Alexander met Antony outside.

“Are you heading to the hospital?”

“Yes, I am. Lilly woke up.”

“I’m coming with you,” Antony said.

Alexander gave him a look. “I thought you were leaving today?”

“Not without Sarah.”

“So, you’re coming to the hospital because of her?”

“Yes, and also to say goodbye to your wife and child.”

Alexander nodded and headed to his car, while Antony joined him, and they drove to the hospital.

“I’m so glad you’re okay, my child,” Grandma Helen said, touching Lilly’s forehead. “I was so scared something would happen to Viola, you, and Alexander. I stayed up all night praying in the family temple for you to find Viola safe and sound, but then I heard what happened to you, and I was so distressed I had to remain in the temple and pray that you would be alright.”

Lilly held her grandmother’s hand and smiled warmly at her. “Thank you, Grandma, for staying in the temple and praying for us. I’m sorry for making you so worried and letting all of this affect your health.”

“Silly child, my health is just fine.”

Lilly knew the old woman was lying, but instead of arguing, she just smiled. “Okay, Grandma.”

After Grandma left, she also spoke to her father, then Michael and Jacob came for a short while, followed by the others.

Lilly glanced at her watch and frowned. She hated being stuck here instead of at the base.

She looked towards the door when it opened and was disappointed to see Sarah entering.

“Not happy to see me? You must be bored of me already,” Sarah pouted.

“Did you tell Alexander I woke up?”

“Yes, he’s on his way here,” Sarah said, looking at Viola, who was sleeping close to her mother in the spacious hospital bed. Since they got her back from Kate, all she had done was sleep, wake up to eat, and then sleep again. She hadn’t said much since. The cheerful and lively Viola hadn’t returned yet. Witnessing her father being shot and seeing a fire surrounding her mother, coupled with the horrific people who kidnapped her, must have shocked her to the core. Such an experience can deeply affect a child mentally.

Two psychologists had visited her, and both said the same thing: that she was a child going through a profound shock, which was why she wasn’t talking much yet. But with time, she would return to her cheerful self.

“Did she eat all her food?”

Lilly nodded, then looked at Viola sitting close to her. She ran a hand through her hair and kissed her cheek.

The hospital door suddenly opened, and both Lilly and Sarah turned to see Alexander and Antony walk in.

Alexander wasted no time approaching Lilly and hugging her tightly, as if his very soul depended on it.

Lilly hugged him back. “Alexander…”

“I’m sorry for not being here when you woke up, my love. I’m so relieved that you and Viola are okay.”

They kissed passionately, as if they hadn’t seen each other for a long time.

Sarah glanced at Antony, who had been staring at her since he walked into the room.

“Don’t you think we’re interrupting them?” Antony said, looking at Alexander and Lilly, who were being so affectionate without caring if anyone else was present.

Sarah knew she should leave the loving couple alone, but she also knew that stepping outside the room would mean she’d have to talk to Antony. She looked at them and sighed before walking out of the VIP hospital room, with Antony following, a smirk on his face.

She walked a bit farther from the room and then sat on one of the benches in the corridor.

Antony sat on the same bench. “We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning.”

“I’m not going back there with you.”

Antony raised her chin so she would look him in the eye.

“You’re coming with me whether you like it or not, Sarah.”

“You’re going to take me with you against my will?”

Antony softened, running a hand through her hair. “Sarah, I love you so much, and I can’t be with any other woman but you. I’m sorry I didn’t know what was happening or how my family treated you. You could have told me, but you know I was hardly around.”

Sarah moved his hand away from her chin. “I’m not coming with you.”

Antony clenched his fist. As much as he wanted to take her with him against her will, he knew that would only make her resent him more. After calming his nerves to keep his patience, he then said, “Tell me what you want me to do to make things right, and I will—please.”

Sarah looked him in the eye and saw his longing for her. Her heart still beat for him even after five years. Should she just go back with him and face everyone? She was the one who left, but here he was, begging her to come back.

“I’m not ready to go back yet,” she said softly.

“Yet? Does that mean you’ll give us a chance?” Antony asked, hope flickering in his eyes.

“It’s been five years,” she replied, uncertainty in her voice.

“It doesn’t matter. I want you back, even if it’s been twenty years,” Antony said earnestly, placing his hand on her cheek and giving her a gentle peck.